Costa Rica announced Tuesday that 34 fast charging points for electric cars will be in operation this year. They will be part of a network of charging stations the government plans to expand in the upcoming years.

There are currently six fast or semi-fast charging stations, called “Electrolineras,” already installed in the country.

“[On Tuesday] we are announcing the first 34 fast charging centers that are being installed between now and December, which will allow the national and tourist population to travel around the whole country in an electric vehicle without fear of running out of battery,” said first lady Claudia Dobles as she opened an electrolinera in Paso Ancho, in southern San José.

The stations will charge 80 percent of an electric car battery in 20 minutes.

Dobles, an urban architect, is in charge of the transportation element of the recently launched National Decarbonization Plan.The plan aims to replace the current fleet of combustion engines, made up of around 1.5 million cars, motorcycles, trucks and buses, for electric units, before 2050.

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“By presenting The National Decarbonization Plan, Costa Rica made clear its commitment to becoming a modern, green, emission-free, resilient and inclusive economy,” said Environment Minister, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, at the event.

He added that “this means making all transport electric and ensuring the population a network of recharging infrastructure that allows users of electric vehicles to move throughout the length and breadth of the national territory.”

With an electricity matrix based almost entirely on renewable sources, Costa Rica has conditions conducive to adopting a mobility system based on electricity, according to local authorities.

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